Social Work
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Location: | Medway |
| Award: | BA (Hons) |
| Type: | Full-time |
| Further information | |
| Download: | Subject leaflet |
| Online: | Department |
| Profile: | Student profile |
The degree in Social Work offers successful graduates eligibility for professional registration with the General Social Care Council (GSCC). It provides the national required standard in knowledge and skills needed by professional social workers. The programme also provides extensive work in practice learning settings that meet Government requirements.
Social Work runs at the University of Kent’s Medway campus, and benefits from the excellent new facilities on site. The degree is taught by lecturers with extensive social work practice experience, and the student body is a cosmopolitan mix of mature and younger students, from different ethnic backgrounds and nationalities.
Home and EU students are normally eligible for a non-means-tested Department of Health bursary of approximately £3,500 per year, which includes a basic grant, an amount for practice placement expenses and a contribution towards tuition fees.
Degree programmes
Single honours
Did you know?
Social Work at Kent was ranked 1st in the UK for student satisfaction in the 2008 and 2009 National Student Surveys.
- Social Work (L508:K)
Core modules
Stage 1
You take eight compulsory 15-credit modules.
- Communication Skills
- Human Growth and Development
- Introduction to Law for Social Work
- Social Policy
- Social Theory for Social Workers
- Social Work Services and Service Users
- Social Work Theories, Methods and Practice 1
- Values, Ethics and Equality
In January there is a ten-day observation placement in a social work organisation where you have the opportunity to shadow an experienced social worker and to develop a greater understanding of the experience of service users.
Stage 2
From September to March, you do a 100-day assessed practice placement in a social work organisation involving direct provision of services to service users.
Practice placements are allocated by the University in statutory (for example. local authority services), voluntary and private organisations, depending on availability, taking into account your interests, learning needs and geographical considerations.
You then take two 30-credit compulsory modules:
- Adults Services and Community Care
- Social Work with Children and Families.
Stage 3
In the first term, you take four 15-credit modules.
- People Who Use Services and Carers
- Research for Social Work Practice
- Social Work Practice in a Multi-agency Context
- Social Work Theories, Methods and Practice 2
The programme finishes with another 100-day period of assessed practice, from January to June, in a social work organisation.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods include formal lectures, large and small group discussion and experiential work, and a programme of seminars.
Social workers are required to be computer literate, so you have the opportunity to take modules towards the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) or equivalent.
During placement periods, you are assessed by a practice educator on whether you meet the National Occupational Standards for Social Work.
In addition to the assessed placements, you are assessed through a mixture of written module assignments, in class tests, presentations and video work. Successfully completing Stage 1 also includes satisfying the Board of Examiners that you are safe to do the practical component of Stages 2 and 3.
Entry requirements
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Offer levels
A level 280 points (3.5 A level equivalents) inc BC at A level or in GCE double A level, IB Diploma 33 points with 4 in Mathematics or IB Diploma with 14 points at Higher inc 4 in Mathematics.
Mature candidates who do not hold appropriate qualifications may apply but need to satisfy the University they have the ability to study at degree level.
All applicants must demonstrate in their UCAS personal statement that they have gained sufficient experience to evidence their interest and suitability to study Social Work.
Offers are subject to a GSCC health check and a CRB clearance (enhanced).
Required subjects
- GCSE Mathematics grade C
Careers
Professional recognition
Social workers must register with the GSCC and the degree is a prerequisite for professional registration as a qualified social worker. Further information
The programme has a good record of graduates obtaining employment. Nationally, there is a shortage of social workers. Jobs are available in: local authority and health settings (for example, working with children and families, disabled people, people with mental health problems, older people); voluntary organisations (for example, Barnardos, NSPCC); and private agencies (for example, private fostering agencies). Some graduates choose to do agency supply work.
